Holothuria atra
(1: Reef's End, Molokini / 2-3: Garden Eel Cove, Kona / 4: Turtle Heaven, Kona)
These are all over the sandy flats of Molokini. The teated sea cucumber is similar, but is found on rockier areas.
Hawaiian Spiky Sea Cucumber
Stichopus (sp?)
(1-2: No-Name Paradise, Lanai / 3: Harbor Ledges, Kauai / 4: Stone House, Kauai / 5: Coral Galleries, Kauai / 6: Dog Beach, Kona)
Tiny crabs live on the bottom of these:
Hawaiian Yellow-Tip Sea Cucumber
Stichopus (sp?)
(1: Harbor Ledges, Kauai)
Keferstein's Sea Cucumber
Polyplectana kefersteini
(1: Pahoehoe Beach, Kona / 2: Kaloko Arches, Kona)
Light-Spotted Sea Cucumber
Holothuria hilla
(1: Kaloko Arches, Kona / 2: Kahalu'u Beach Park, Kona / 3-4: Garden Eel Cove, Kona / 5: Mile Marker 4, Kona)
Lion's Paw Sea Cucumber
Euapta godeffroyi
Usually out at night, hidden during the day.
Paradoxical Sea Cucumber
Bohadschia paradoxa
(1-3: Garden Eel Cove, Kona / 4: Reef's End, Molokini / 5: Dog Beach, Kona / 6: Turtle Heaven, Kona)
Plump Sea Cucumber
Actinopyga obesa
(1: Shark Fin, Lanai / 2: Kaloko Arches, Kona / 3: Ice Box, Kauai / 4: Three Fingers, Kauai / 5: Plate Lunch, Kauai / 6-7: Sheraton Caverns, Kauai)
In the 4th picture, note the beads of sand excreted by the sea cucumber.
Sea Cucumber
Bohadschia (sp?)
Stubborn Sea Cucumber
Holothuria pervicax
(1-2: Kaloko Arches, Kona)
Teated Sea Cucumber
Holothuria whitmaei
(1: Kahalu'u Beach Park, Kona / 2: Kua Bay, Kona / 3: Sheraton Caverns, Kauai / 4: Hoover's, Kona / 5: Olowalu, Maui / 6: Buoy 2, Kauai)
Stockier than the black sea cucumber. Usually found on rockier areas.
White-Spotted Sea Cucumber
Actinopyga mauritania
(1,4-5: Black Rock, Maui / 2: Kealia Beach, Maui / 3: Tortugas, Kauai / 6: No Name, Lanai / 7-8: Vertical Awareness, Lehua)
Note the sand excreted by the sea cucumber in the lower right of the second photo.